Australia v India 3rd Test: David Warner hobbles through return from injury at SCG

Justin Langer declared pre-match that his ‘warrior’ David Warner wasn’t 100 per cent. Was picking him the right thing to do?

Australia's David Warner walks off the ground after being dismissed by India's Mohammed Siraj during on day one of the third cricket test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) between Australia and India on January 7, 2021. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP) / —IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – NO COMMERCIAL USE —

Has Australia asked too much of David Warner?

This was the question hovering around the SCG on Thursday after the star opener hobbled and grimaced through his first attempt at a quick single only to last another five balls at the crease.

Less than six weeks after tearing his groin at the same ground, Warner was rushed back by a desperate Australia, who acknowledged they were taking a calculated risk for the must-win Test.

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As courageous as it was for Warner to answer an SOS from his team and put his hand up to play despite knowing he wasn’t close to fully fit – Australia may have underestimated the fact he is a bull-at-a-gate runner who doesn’t keep anything in the tank.

Test greats Ricky Ponting and Michael Slater felt there was a correlation between Warner struggling through two quick singles, and his decision to swing at a couple of wide ones outside off, the second of which had him out edging to slip off Mohammed Siraj.

Australian coach Justin Langer declared pre-match that although his ‘warrior’ wasn’t 100 per cent, it was highly unlikely Warner could re-injure himself again.

On Thursday the early word out of the camp was there had been no aggravation or further damage caused.

Ponting had his fingers crossed.

India waste no time drawing first blood - Siraj dismisses Warner with 5 runs to his name. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/84MIrDdzd9

— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) January 6, 2021

David Warner takes off for a quick single during his short return.

“I think everyone knew that he probably wasn’t going to be 100 per cent coming into the Test match. The only thing I hope is that he hasn’t tweaked it again, doing something more there,” said Ponting on Channel 7.

“It was pretty much from that moment on that those loose shots started.

“So hopefully it wasn’t playing on his mind.

“Hopefully he’s OK and hopefully we can just say that that’s the way David Warner plays a shot like that early on in a Test match.”

Former star Mike Hussey on Fox Cricket said that although Warner’s best intentions might have been to try and stay in second gear in this Test – adrenaline takes over when you get out there and face the new ball.

David Warner is caught off the bowling of Mohammed Siraj.

“He’s certainly labouring a bit and it’s not the David Warner we’re used to seeing. He certainly is not even close to 100 per cent fit.

“It’s not a great sign,” said Hussey.

Also on Fox, Kerry O’Keeffe noted that when Warner made a sterling second innings hundred against New Zealand, the left-hander had taken more than an hour to assess conditions before playing his shots.

But after struggling through with a gait that resembled nothing like the Olympic-sprinter type style he perfected during last summer’s marathon 300 in Adelaide, Warner broke from his normal cautious approach and appeared to make a decision to up the ante.

O’Keeffe felt there was a link forced by his fitness situation.

Adam Gilchrist said Warner only looked 75 per cent fit in commentary.

Former Test greats thought David Warner was only at about 80 per cent fitness.

Slater went with “80 per cent”, and claimed the superstar appeared in severe pain.

“There was one run he took and he was grimacing. You could just see him hobbling towards the end, which is not a good sign,” said Slater.

“He didn’t last out there too much longer. But it looks like he’s in pain to me, which means he’s not 100 per cent.

“He’s gone in with 80 per cent to play, and he was looking to take those quick singles.”

It’s hard to be too critical of Australia for sensing it was crucial for Warner to be rushed back for the Sydney Test with the scoreboard reading 1-1 and the Australians lacking their usual tempo and fear factor without him during the first two Tests.

But it was always going to be a big ask, and now it’s clear Australia have a big task to nurse Warner through two innings in the field and another one back at the crease.